Convertible sample-carrying case and display-stand



u y 1955 N. Y. ALEXANDER CONVERTIBLE SAMPLECARRYING CASE ANDDISPLAY-STAND Filed 001;. 5, 1953 ATTY.

FIG. 5

INVENTOR NOLAN Y. ALEXANDER BY I 40 FIG. 4

FIG. 3

United States Patent Ofiice 2,713,925 Patented July 26, 1955 CONVERTIBLESAMPLE-CARRYING CASE AND DISPLAY-STAND Nelan Y. Alexander, Akron, OhioApplication October 5, 1953, Serial No. 383,969 3 Claims. (Cl. 190-16)This invention relates to a sample-carrying case adapted to be convertedto serve also as a display stand.

Its chief objects are to provide a device of this charactercorresponding closely in appearance and in construction to a standard orordinary sample case and yet requiring very little time or effort toconvert it to a display stand; to provide for conversion of the deviceby simple rearrangement of only parts which perform important functionsin the assembly as a carrying case and also as a display stand, so thatthe need of special elements for conversion purposes is eliminated andexcessive weight and awkward mechanisms are not required; to provide fora high degree of stability in the device as a display stand; to providefor full exposure of a display element without requiring it to have along range of movement in relation to its support; and to provideeconomy of manufacture and strength and durability in a device of thiskind.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention in itspreferred form, the device, having substantially the appearance of anordinary travelling case, but being set on one of its ends in readinessfor conversion to a display stand, a part of the front wall of the casebeing broken away to show internal construction and the sample containedin the case.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device, from the right of Fig. l, but withone of the body members of the case serving as a stabilizing foot memberand with the sample in elevated, exposed, position.

Fig. 3 is a section on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 2.

As the sample to be displayed, and demonstrated if desired, a windowframe or sash is here shown in association with the assembly of parts,but my invention is not wholly limited to any particular type of thingto be displayed.

The container portion of the case comprises a boxlike major body portion11 and 21 preferably shorter, complementary portion 12, which servesalternatively as a lid or closure member, as in Fig. 1, or as astabilizing foot member, as in Fig. 2. The two can be provided by makinga single, completely enclosed box and then sawing or otherwise cuttingit in two at the plane A, Fig. 1, 2 or 3.

For holding the two-purpose member 12 in proper relationship in eitherof its uses it is provided on each of its opposite edge faces withlatching means, preferably an over-center or toggle latch or clamp 13 asshown, the two being adapted to engage and tighten in relation torespective keepers 14, 14 mounted on the outer faces of the uppermargins of the box member 11, as in Fig. 1, when the device is acarrying case and, alternatively, with keepers such as that shown at 15in Fig. 2, suitably positioned on the lower part of the box member 11,when the device is used as a display stand, with the planar edge facethat defines the opening of the box element 12 contacting a verticalouter face of the box element 11 at positions widely spaced horizontallyand at positions widely spaced vertically.

To protect the adjacent latch and keeper when the device, as a carryingcase, is set down with its handle, 16, uppermost, the box element 12 isprovided with suitable rubber pads 17, 17 and the box element 11 withsimilar pads 18, 18.

When, as in the present embodiment, the device is adapted to contain andto display in exposed condition an assembly inclusive of a planarstructure such as a window frame or sash, guide channels 19, 19 for theplanar member are secured to the inner faces of the narrow lengthwisewalls of the major box element 11 and they preferably project from theopen end of that element to serve as telescopic guides and positioningmembers for the closure box element 12. The latter can be provided withpairs of spacer block 20, 20 secured to the inner faces of its narrowerwalls for embracing the respective projecting end portions of the guidechannels 19 to give the assembly, as a carrying case, the

strength of telescopic relationship in a direction at right angles tothat in which the structure is given strength by the telescopicengagement of the channels 19 with the respective narrow inner faces ofthe cover element 12. The spacer blocks 2%) are preferably rounded attheir lower corners nearest the respective channel 19, as shown clearlyin Fig. 3, for guiding of the cover element 12 into place upon the majorbox element 11.

At one or both vertical edges of the planar member 11) latching means isprovided for holding the said member in elevated position when it hasbeen slid upward in the guide channels 19, and a convenient type oflatching means is a bullet detent device 21 as shown clearly in Fig. 5,which has sufiicient resistance to dislodgment from its keeperdepression, in the member 11, to support the planar member but can bedislodged by suitable manual pressure simply applied to the planarmember 10. The bullet detent is here shown as being mounted in theplanar member 10, so that the box member 11 does not have to be formedwith a socket for it, but the invention is not limited to thisparticular arrangement of latching means.

The manner of manipulating the parts, and the advantages set out in theabove statement of objects, will be manifest from the foregoingdescription.

Modifications are possible without departure from the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A convertible sample-carrying case and displaystand comprising twocompletely separable, open-end box elements each of substantial depthfrom its open end, adapted to be associated with their open endstogether to provide a unitary container, means for releasably holdingthem in that relationship, one of the said box elements being adapted tostand, with stability, upon its end opposite its open end, means mountedin that box element for vertically gliding, in sliding relativemovement, an article to be displayed when the latter, within said boxelement, is bodily lifted in simple movement of translation, andlatching means for holding the said article in the position to which itis thus lifted, the said guiding means projecting from the open end ofthe box element in which it is mounted, for extensive guiding andlateral support of the said article, and means on the other of the saidbox elements slidably fitting the projecting portion of the said guidingmeans in telescoped relation thereto, for strengthening the assembly,when the said box elements are associated with their open ends togetherto provide a unitary container.

2. A convertible sample-carrying case and displaystand comprising twocompletely separable open end box faces of the two finsh with each otherto provide a hori- 1 zontally extensive footing for the assembly.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 in which the recited holding meanscomprises alternative means on one of the box elements and means on theother box element selectively engageable with the said alternative meansfor holding the box elements in the two relationships selectively.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS696,813 Harrison Apr. 1, 1902 1,166,988 Hinkson Jan. 4, 1916 1,521,310Morna Dec. 30 ,1924 1,526,213 Humphrey Feb. 10, 1925 1,629,213 HughesMay 17, 1927 1,997,820 Govoni Apr. 16, 1935 2,673,783 Rahm et al. Mar.30, 1954 mlwm

